Four years ago, the Department for Education (DfE) began a review into the SEND system. Six months ago, the DfE announced what government’s SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan would …
How to bring down the ever-rising number of appeals to the SEND Tribunal is a vexing question occupying many minds at the top of government. It was central to the …
Should headteachers and school governors undergo mandatory training in the Equality Act 2010 and, specifically, disability discrimination? I’d like to think that they would already have a good grounding in …
Once again, families’ complaints about English councils’ education and children’s services were overwhelmingly upheld by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO). In its 2022-23 annual review, the LGSCO …
If you have been involved in an EHCP appeal before the SEND Tribunal, then there is a good chance that you will have experienced the frustration of a local authority …
The SEND trope of the EHCP “Golden Ticket” has recently once again raised its pernicious head on social media. Over recent years, the term has been employed to imply the wrong-headed …
As thoughts begin to turn to the next election, we thought it was about time to find out what the Labour Party thinks about the Government’s SEND Improvement Plan and …
A quick post to let you know about two brilliant events we’re involved with this week: The Schools Week Festival of Education and nasen live! Schools Week Festival of Education …
With Paula McGowan OBE Few of us will be unaware of the scandal of young disabled people abused, mistreated, or neglected in residential health and education settings One of the …
A new survey of 6,000 teachers and senior leaders across England shows supporting children with SEND is one of the top five expected challenges in schools over the next 12 …
The SEND stats for 2023 have been published and the numbers both of children on SEN Support and those with EHCPs are still rising. You can read our analysis of …
In 2022, statistics were published by The British Association of Supported Employment (BASE) showing that only 5.1% of people with learning disabilities known to social services are in any form …
If you were involved in SEND back in 2019, you will have been aware—or may have participated—in protest marches and events around the country to highlight the crisis facing disabled …
Yesterday, the Department for Education (DfE) published their annual statistical summary of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in England. These figures can usually tell us a fair bit about …
by Conrad Bourne, Mercia Trust Our post earlier this year, ‘No specialists = no support’ highlighted a severe shortfall in the number of speech and language therapists and other specialists …
MPs on the House of Commons Education Select Committee invited the Children’s Minister, Claire Coutinho, in for a chat this week about the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan. Members of …
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UN Committee) is this year examining the UK on its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. …
On Tuesday 2nd May, we were joined by Claire Coutinho, Education Minister with responsibility for SEND to discuss the SEND Improvement Plan. Many of you sent in questions before the …
With Kyle Thapar Kyle Thapar is a young teen who attends a mainstream provision. As he is neurodivergent, Kyle recently chose the topic of neurodiversity and ableism for a presentation …
A school’s commitment to inclusion can easily be measured in three core ways: whether the SENCO is given the time and team to advocate for its children with identified needs; …
